Timing apparatus



Sept. 3, 1963 J. D. DAHL TIMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 3, 1963 J. D. DAHL TIMING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Aug. 6, 1962 flrramvars 3,1025% TMING APPARATUS D. Dahl, 5024Dupont Ave; 3., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 214,953

7 Claims. (Cl. 58-125) Joseph This invention relates to the constructionand operation of a time piece,v such as on the order of a clock. Moreparticularly this invention has. to do with the mounting and rotation ofthe hands of such a time piece.

It is apurpose and an object of this invention to. provide an unusualconstruction of a time piece in connection with which the the handsthereof are removably mounted and are rotated Without being secured in aconventional manner to the driving or operating mechanism of the timepiece.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a member forming ahand of a time piece having a pivot point at its point of rotationalequilibrium, and a rotating member freely supporting said hand at saidpoint and rotating said hand at a velocity relative to its own angularvelocity.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a time piece inconnection with which one hand is freely pivotally mounted uponthe'other hand and having rotative movement relative to the movement ofsaid other hand.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a time piecewhereby one hand at its point of rotational equilibrium is pivotallyhung onto the other hand thereof with said other hand being pivotallyhung at a point representing its point of rotational equilibrium, takinginto consideration said first hand mounted thereon and said first handbeing rotated by the rotation of said other hand.

Further it is an object of this invention to provide a time piece withhands thereof being freely mounted for rotation and not secured to adriving'means in a conventional manner.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of applicants device with a portionthereof being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 2-4 of FIG. 1 asindicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 3-6 ofFIG. 2 as indicated by the arrows;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show views similar to that in FIG. 3 in differentpositions;

pressed thereinto. I source of current. Although an electrical motor ishere 3 ,102,380 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 tain therein a motor 14 having acasing suitable to be Said motor will be connected to a indicated as apower source for the time piece, any suitable source of power maybeutilitzed. Though not here shown, said time piece 10 will be mounted ona wall surface in a conventional manner.

Extending forwardly of said motor motor 14 through an aperture in saiddial 11 is a drive shaft. 16 having secured thereto a supporting membershown here in the ,form of pulley 18 having spaced retaining end platesor flange portions 19 and 20. Extending forwardly of said end plate 20and integral therewith is a second pulley 21 eccentric to the axis ofthe pulley 18 and having at its free end a flange or end plate 22.

Mounted on said pulley 18 is a minute hand 25 and mounted on said pulley21 is an hour hand 30. Said pulleys will be formed of a material havingsuitable frictional engagement with said hands.

Said hands 25 and are most suitably formed of a homogenous material,such as of acrylic sheet material. The hands may be in the form of anydesirable design, and for purpose of illustration they are here shown tobe generally triangular in form. Said hands will be relative in size toone another as is customary in connection with time pieces.

With respect to the minute hand 25, its point of rotational equilibriumwill be determined and this will form the center of a circular hole oropening 26, or

recess, which will have a periphery or circumference said circumferencein vertical alignment with the point of rotational equilibrium and ineffect relative to the point of suspension, the point of center ofgravity of said hand has been lowered. Hence at the point of suspensionwhich may be any point of the circumference of said hole or opening 26,the hand 25 will always be in a stabilized position and it will never beout of rotational equilibrium. 1

In the particular embodiment of the invention here illustrated, theshaft 16 will have a velocity of two revolutions per hour, as Will alsothe pulley 18 integral therewith. Said pulley is here indicated as beingthree-fourths FIG. 6 in a fragmentary view shows a detailed illus- FIGS.1-5, one emb odiment of applicants invention is shown in the form of awall mounted time piece 10 comprising a circular face portion or dial 11which may be very decoratively formed, as of acrylic sheetmaterial suchas is sold under the trademarks of Lucite and Plexiglas. Spaced aboutthe face of said dial adjacent the periphery thereof are indicia 13representing indications of elements of time. Extending rearwaddly ofsaid dial 11 axially thereof is a cylindrical cup portion 14 arrangedand constructed to receive and friotionally re-.

inches in diameter with the opening 26 being one and one-half inches indiameter.

With reference to the hour hand 30, formed therethrough is a circularhole or opening 3-1 the center 33 of which willl be the point ofrotational equilibrium thereof. Said hand will be positioned on thepulley 2.1 by having said pulley disposed through said hole 31 andengaging point 34- on the circumference 32 of said opening. Said pointof engagement between said pulley and said circumference forms thereference point of suspension in identical manner as point 37 forms thereference point of suspension of said hand 25. The diameter of saidopening 31 is here indicated as being one and onehalf inches with thediameter of the pulley 21 being one-sixteenth inches for a ratio oftwenty-fourto one.

Operation The principle of rotation of the hands of applicants invention in a timepiece is herewith explained. With particular referenceto the hand 25 as seated on the pulley 18, the pulley will havefrictional engagement with the circumference 27 of the circular opening26 of said hand. Hence as the pulley rotates it causes the rotation ofthe hand. The point of engagement of'said pulley with the circumferenceof the opening forms the suspension point 3.7 which is here indicated asa reference pointjand this will always be vertically aligned withthe-pointof rota-. tional equilibrium 35. Thus the hand will always bein a stable position'relative to the suspension point. The suspension ofthe hand at the point 35 also provides a lowered centerof gravity of thehand.

Referring to the diagrammatic view in FIG. 6, as the shaft ls notates tothe right it causes a corresponding r0,-

' tation of the hand'jZIS and thus there follow successive I points ofengagement between the pulley and said circum ference. There Will beaninfinite. number of successive points of such engagement atinfinitesimal increments g with each successive point forming a newpoint of'suspension at the same reference point, that is, in directvertical alignment with thecenter of the opening 26 which is the pointof rotational equilibrium of the hand 25.

minute hand of the time piece. Said hand is similar to the hand and hasa circular opening 46, or recess,

therein having for its center the point 60 representing a.

reference point 65 is indicated as being the point of sdspension atwhich said hand is supported on said pulley. Integral with said hand 45and extending outwardly therefrom is a pulley51 secured to said hand atits hub .portion 54), as by the use of an adhesive. pulley has an outerend flange portion 52.

in the drawing, the points Pl-P4 are reference points of.

engagement on the circumference 27 and the points Rl-R4 arecorresponding reference points of engagement on the pulley 18. Theengagement between the pulley and the circumference is tangential andthus in effect there is a "point of engagement. The reference pointshere shown are spaced at exaggerated intervals. Actually these pointsare spaced at infinitesimal increments. The relationship between thepulley 18 and the circumference 27 is a linear 2:1 and the shaftrotating with a velocity of two'revolutions an hour, the shaft willrotate twice for each rota- 7 tion of the hand whereby the hand 25,forming the minopening 31. Here the ratio is 24:1. The pulley rotatestwenty-four times for each rotation of the hand about the face of thedial 11 to indicate the passage of twelve hours. The pulley rotatestwice in moving said hand the interval to indicate the passage of onehour. The pulley 21 in being eccentric to the pulley 1,8 actually movesthrough a circular orbit.

Thus the hands 25 and 30 respectively in rotational equilibrium aremoved through a succession of suspension points at a relative velocitywith respect to one another to make up an accurate time piece.

The hands of applicants time piece are always in perfect balance, hencethere is no slippage or faltering in their movement and there resultsuniform rotation of the hands and accurate time being had.

Thus with the ratio of the circumference of the opening 26 relative tothe circumference of the shaft being Hung onto saidpul-ley 51 is an hourhand 53 similar to the hand 3t) previously described and having acircular opening 54 therein having a circumference 55. The referencepoint 61 indicated in FIG. 7 as being the center of said opening is alsothe point of rotational equilibrium of said hand.

Acrylic material has been used for the hands and I Q pulleys. This hasproved to be a very satisfactory homogeneous material which is readilybalanced and there results a very satisfactory degree of. frictionalengagement between the hands and their respective pulleys. Although thebasic operating mechanism of applicants time piece is the motor 14, yetthe application of the motor in operating the handscomprises anunobvious means of driving the hands in a time piece. The result is aunique and distinctive time piece with the hands being readilyremovable, easily positioned without affecting the motor 14 in any way,and the hands may readily be exchanged for others of anydesirable designor color.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, a modification of applicants inventionis shownin which portions similar to those in the previous embodiment areindicated by like characters. Applicants modified invention comprises atime piece 40 having a dial 11 having indicia 13 thereon and having aire'arwardly extending cup-like portion 12 having frictionally securedtherein a motor 14 having a drive shaft 16 extending forwardly of saiddial 11 and having secured thereon a pulley 41 having spaced flanges 42and 43 at either end thereof.

Hung onto said pulley 41 isa hand 45 representing the Now to refer backto the hand 45, said reference point 60 is the point of rotationalequilibrium of the hands 45 and 53 in combination with said hand 53being supported by said hand 45 at a point eccentric to what otherwisewould be its point of rotational equilibrium taken by itself.

With the pulley 41 having axial rotation, the pulley 51 will haveorbital rotation with its path of movement describing a circular orbit.The ratio between the circumference of the pulley 51 and-thecircumference of the opening 54 indicated as being 12:1. a

The principle of operation of the timepiece 4U'here describedisidentical with that of the time piece first above described. Thedifference present is a structural difference in that the hour hand 53is suspended from the minute hand 45 instead of being mounted onto thesame pulley which carries the minute hand. i Y The'hand 45 makes acomplete rotation about theface of the dial 11 to indicate the passageof'one hour with each two revolutions of the pulley 41. Each revolutionof the pulley 51moves the hour hand 53 a distance to indicate thepassage of one hour of time. When the pulley 51 has made twelverevolutions, the hand 53 will have been moved through one completerotation to indicate the passage of twelve hours of time.

Both the structure and principle of operation of applicants time piecesare believed to represent unique and unobvious differences with respectto conventional time pieces and there is provided a very distinctive andattractive product. Applicants invention has proved to be verysuccessful in operation.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope a pulley disposed through said opening axiallythere- 1 of engaging the circumference thereof at a point verticallyaligned with the center of said opening, said point forming a suspensionpoint for said member, means rotating said pulley, said pulley inrotating causing the rotation of said member in engaging an infinitenumber of successive points on said circumference spaced atinfinitesimal increments forming a succession of suspension points ofsaid member, said suspension points being vertisaid point of engagementbeing vertically aligned with said point of rotational equilibrium,

means rotating said supporting member, and

said rotating supporting member having a certain linear relationshipwith said circumferenceand rotating said hand by engagement with saidcircumferene at an infinite number of successive points thereon.

3. A timing apparatus comprising v an elongated member forming a hand,

a circular Opening in said hand,

said openinghaving its center coincidental with the point of rotationalequilibrium of said member,

a cylindrical supporting member having a smaller circumference than thatof said opening and having a specific ratio thereto,

said supporting memberbeing disposed axially through said opening havinga tangential engagement with the circumference of said opening forming apoint of suspension;

means rotating said supporting member,

said supporting member rotating said hand by engageinent ofsuccessive'points on the circumference of said opening;

4. The structureset forth in claim 3,

a second hand,

w a second supporting member integral with said first supportingimember,said second hand having a circular opening therein 3 having the centerthereof coincidental with the point of rotational equilibrium of saidmember,

said second hand having a circumference having a "certain ratio to thecircumference of said opening of said second hand and being'disposedthrough said opening to engage a point on the circumference Tfthereof,and

said second supporting member rotating said second hand by engagingsuccessive points on the circum- ,ference of the opening thereof. 5. Atiming apparatus comprising an elongated member forming a hand,

:a circular recess in said hand,

said recess having its center coincidental with the point of rotationalequilibrium of said hand,

a cylindrical supporting member axially of said recess engaging a pointon the circumference thereof forming a suspension point,

means rotating saidsupporting member, and

said supporting member rotating said hand by engagement of successivepoints on the circumference thereof.

6. A timing apparatus comprising an elongated member forming a hand,

a circular opening in said hand,

a cylindrical supporting member,

said hand being hung onto'said supporting member by engagement of saidsupporting member with a point on the circumference of said opening,

said hand having a cylindrical supporting member extending outwardlytherefrom being integral there with,

a second hand,

said second hand having a circular opening therein,

said opening having a center coincidental with the point of rotationalequilibrium of said second hand,

said second hand being hung onto said second supporting member byengagement of said supporting memher with a pointon the circumference ofsaid openthe center of said opening of said first hand being at I thepoint of rotational equilibrium of said first and second hands taken incombination, means rotating said first supporting member, and

said first supporting member rotating said first hand by engagingsuccessive points on the circumference of the opening thereof, and saidfirst hand rotating said second supporting member to rotate said secondhand by engagement of successive points on the circurnference of theopening of said second hand.

7. The structure set forth inclaim 6,

said first and second supporting members respectively havingcircumferential ratios relative to said first and second openings ofsaid first and second hands whereby said hands are respectively rotatedat velocities relative to one another and relative to the velocity ofsaid first supporting member to measure the passage of time.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A TIMING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER FORMING A HAND, ACIRCULAR OPENING IN SAID HAND, SAID OPENING HAVING ITS CENTERCOINCIDENTAL WITH THE POINT OF ROTATIONAL EQUILIBRIUM OF SAID MEMBER APULLEY DISPOSED THROUGH SAID OPENING AXIALLY THEREOF ENGAGING THECIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF AT A POINT VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH THE CENTER OFSAID OPENING, SAID POINT FORMING A SUSPENSION POINT FOR SAID MEMBER,MEANS ROTATING SAID PULLEY, SAID PULLEY IN ROTATING CAUSING THE ROTATIONOF SAID MEMBER IN ENGAGING AN INFINITE NUMBER OF SUCCESSIVE POINTS ONSAID CIRCUMFERENCE SPACED AT INFINITESIMAL INCREMENTS FORMING ASUCCESSION OF SUSPENSION POINTS OF SAID MEMBER, SAID SUSPENSION POINTSBEING VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID POINT OF ROTATIONAL EQUILIBRIUM.